In my years of writing Tennessee Law Blog and warning Tennesseans of dangerous products, I have avoided publicizing dietary supplement recalls, partly because dietary supplement recalls are so common, partly because I prefer to use this pace to warn readers of the far more dangerous and larger betrayal of trust found in Tennessee pharmaceutical drug injuries and recalls. This said, two recent weight loss supplements pose dangers beyond the pale that Tennessee Law Blog would be remiss not to mention.

Though no serious adverse effects or drug injuries have been reported in Tennessee, the two following recalled supplements can pose serious harm due to the undeclared drug substances they contain. Any consumer who has purchased either of the following two recalled appetite suppressants should immediately discontinue use.

1. Zhen De Shou Fat Loss Capsules. Distributed through the U.S. and sold online, FDA officials found undeclared sibutramine (trade name Meridia) in these OTC appetite suppressant (“fat loss”) pills. While the appetite suppressant sibutramine is approved by FDA (despite claims of the drug being far more dangerous than the conditions it “cures”), sibutramine can significantly increase blood pressure and pulse in some consumers and studies are underway investigating reports of sudden death, heart failure, kidney failure, and other problems caused by this drug. Particularly at risk are patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias or stroke.

Zhen De Shou Fat Loss Capsules are sold in 10 light and dark green capsules in blister packs. Consumers should immediately discontinue use and responsibly dispose of any unused product.

2. StarCaps Diet System Dietary Supplement. At first voluntarily recalled by Balanced Health Products, now subject of a FDA immediate recall, these supplements were recalled upon discovering unlisted bumetanide as an ingredient. Bumetanide is a diuretic that requires a prescription and can cause dehydration and low blood pressure. Also, consumers allergic to bumetanide may experience adverse reactions from the drug, as can consumers using other prescription drugs, especially digoxin and lithium. FDA officials urge takers of StarCaps experiencing any symptoms to immediately call their health care provider.

StarCaps are marketed as an all-natural product from Peru that combines papaya enzyme and garlic to reduce appetite. A plastic bottle of 30 tablets costs about $100.

Neither dietary supplements’ packaging or labeling indicated that these products were anything other than completely harmless.

If you have suffered injury from undeclared substances in a dietary supplement and are a resident of Tennessee, Kentucky, or Georgia, our drug injury attorneys at our Nashville law offices would like to help. Contact our TN defective drug injury team online or give us a call at 800-705-2121. As always, initial consultations are free of any charge and, in many cases, we only charge attorney’s fees when you’re fairly compensated.